4K monitor recommendations

moneysaver1978

I have a Macbook M1 Pro 16" (2021, work) and a Macbook Retina Pro (2013, personal).

As I am increasingly working from home, I need to purchase a 4K monitor with usb-c (so 1 cable for everything?). I really like the look of the Dell P3223QE but the price is making me nervous!

I am not looking to use both MacBooks at the same time or switch often (so something like KVM(?) isn't necessary) but would be ideal to disconnect/swap cable and be connected.

The 2013 personal doesn't have usb-c but that's ok for the next few years until it finally dies!

What's your set up and any recommendations? Is a separate hub a better option?

Many thanks for any insights!

DullGreyGuy

I've an older 27" version of the same thing but predates USB-C so no one cable solution. 

With the whole hub thing it really depends on what you need to connect up, a desktop hub is convenient if you are frequently changing cables etc but if its all static then save the desk space and have it built into the monitor.  90W from the monitor is more than powerful enough to run a M1 Pro... hell a 20W mobile charger could keep mine not only running but charging when doing standard Exce/Powerpoint type work. 

LightFlare

Do you really need 4k ?

It all depends on the tasks/programs you are using

DullGreyGuy

LightFlare said:

Do you really need 4k ?

It all depends on the tasks/programs you are using

Sitting 18" from a 32" screen does demand a fairly high resolution if you dont want pixilation... Dell don't even make any 1080 screens at this size and sell as many 6k models as they do 2k (the majority are 4k at this screen size)

moneysaver1978

DullGreyGuy said:

LightFlare said:

Do you really need 4k ?

It all depends on the tasks/programs you are using

Sitting 18" from a 32" screen does demand a fairly high resolution if you dont want pixilation... Dell don't even make any 1080 screens at this size and sell as many 6k models as they do 2k (the majority are 4k at this screen size)

Yep exactly what DullGreyGuy says - I cannot go back to 1080.

I will take a look at HP, Samsung and LG or maybe wait a bit till Black Friday for any decent offers!

Tony5896

I use a dell p2415 as a single monitor to run work laptop, mac air, Mac mini ..
it has dp, mini dp and hdmi ..
attached to k380 keyboard and pebble mouse 

they come on eBay for 100-150 from time to time 

DigSunPap

moneysaver1978 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

LightFlare said:

Do you really need 4k ?

It all depends on the tasks/programs you are using

Sitting 18" from a 32" screen does demand a fairly high resolution if you dont want pixilation... Dell don't even make any 1080 screens at this size and sell as many 6k models as they do 2k (the majority are 4k at this screen size)

Yep exactly what DullGreyGuy says - I cannot go back to 1080.

I will take a look at HP, Samsung and LG or maybe wait a bit till Black Friday for any decent offers!

I've got two of these LGs, and for cost @£230 ish each they're really good. No allegiance to amazon but they seem to be better value than going direct to LG?  I've got them both plugged into a Apple M1 Max Laptop via USB3 to DisplayPort which gives better clarity than HDMI.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-Electronics-27UL550P-Displayport-Adjustable/dp/B0C2DVRXR3
Full specs here: https://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/uhd-4k-5k/27ul550p-w/

DigSunPap

Sorry my mistake - that should have been USB-C!

DigSunPap said:

moneysaver1978 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

LightFlare said:

Do you really need 4k ?

It all depends on the tasks/programs you are using

Sitting 18" from a 32" screen does demand a fairly high resolution if you dont want pixilation... Dell don't even make any 1080 screens at this size and sell as many 6k models as they do 2k (the majority are 4k at this screen size)

Yep exactly what DullGreyGuy says - I cannot go back to 1080.

I will take a look at HP, Samsung and LG or maybe wait a bit till Black Friday for any decent offers!

I've got two of these LGs, and for cost @£230 ish each they're really good. No allegiance to amazon but they seem to be better value than going direct to LG?  I've got them both plugged into a Apple M1 Max Laptop via USB3 to DisplayPort which gives better clarity than HDMI.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-Electronics-27UL550P-Displayport-Adjustable/dp/B0C2DVRXR3
Full specs here: https://www.lg.com/uk/monitors/uhd-4k-5k/27ul550p-w/

MattMattMattUK

At work I have two of these Dell ones at work and they are lovely, absolutely no complaints.

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-ultrasharp-32-4k-usb-c-hub-monitor-u3223qe/apd/210-bcyo/monitors-monitor-accessories

At home I have one of these for gaming on my PC, also brilliant, and the Dell curved option is a close second for gaming. The MSI monitor has inbuilt KVM, it connects to my laptop via USB-C if I am using that, although the laptop does need a separate USB-C power supply, but I can cope with two cables. It cam also do split screen with both the laptop and PC running if I really need to. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B091JJC84Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-32-4k-uhd-gaming-monitor-g3223q/apd/210-bdxs/monitors-monitor-accessories

If you are just doing content creation, normal work etc. then I would go with the first Dell option, gaming one of the later two. 

moneysaver1978

In case this helps anyone - I went for a Levono l32p-30 (from John Lewis for £319) - it's been fantastic and worked well with my M1 MacBook Pro.

There have been a few reviews about the monitor not being great for gaming but as I am not a gamer, it's moot for me.

I can recommend this monitor if anyone is considering a 4K monitor with usb-c hub.